The Movistar Yamaha team issued the following press release after Valentino Rossi rode a bike for the first time since his accident on August 31st:

ROSSI COMPLETES FIRST LAPS AS HE RETURNS TO RIDING FORM

Valentino Rossi rode his first couple of laps around the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli today since sustaining a leg injury on Thursday, August 31st.

Gerno di Lesmo (Italy), 18th September 2017

Following an enduro accident on August 31st, Valentino Rossi has been diligently working on his recovery from the double fracture in his right leg. Today the nine-time World Champion put his fitness level to the test and successfully completed a few laps around the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli on a YZF-R1M, before rain disrupted the trial run.

As today’s riding session was cut short due to the change in weather, the evaluation of Rossi's physical condition was inconclusive. He will decide by the end of Wednesday, September 20th, whether he will attempt to take part in this weekend’s Gran Premio Movistar de Aragón.

this just seems a little bit crazy. The odds and the scoreboard would indicate he's not in contention any more this year. He's broken that leg badly twice now. WHat if he crashes and breaks it again ?

You can't keep a good man down, but this man deserves a proper rest and heal time. I know the only person forcing Vale out onto the track is Vale, but geez... Yamaha should strap him to a guerney, give him something to bite on to take his mind off bikes, while he rests that leg properly...

The guy just must race. It is like asking you not to take an in breath.

Pretty amazing really. I wish I had anything I felt like that about. I am very deeply committed to my work, and would do it for free. But nothing like Rossi and racing motorbikes. Try to take that bone away, and watch what this dog does....he finds yet MORE.

Good for him. I respect his commitment but I just hope it doesn't end in tears. He above all else knows that the race will be a completely different beast from the laps he's doing at Misano so at the end I hope he makes the right decision. After all, if there's a chance you take it. He and Marquez live off that edge but for his sake, I hope he hasn't gone over the boundary. Tough decisions ahead